Selected to tie in with the study of the Holocaust in history and English classes at Huntington Beach High School, the Huntington Beach Academy of the performing arts chose "The Diary of Anne Frank", as its spring play this year.

Director Robert Rotenberry wanted to show "our students how the writings of a girl their age can make an impact on the world (after) all of these years. The future of our students is open to so many possibilities and they just have to go boldly towards it. They will be performing a new adaptation by Wendy Kesselman, based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning stage play by Frances Goodrich and Albert Hackett as well as newly discovered writings from the diary of Anne Frank and additional survivor accounts which are interwoven to create a contemporary impassioned story of the lives of people persecuted under Nazi rule. ï¿½

The title role is performed by Tara Coffey. "The most important part to me of playing Anne is to realize I'm not just playing another part," explains Tara.ï¿½ "Anne was a real person, with hopes and dreams, and a whole other life outside of the war.ï¿½ It is important toï¿½ know she's not just a made up characterï¿½ to show the hardships the Jews of this time period.ï¿½ She had her own story, andï¿½ millions of others had their own stories, and it is vital that we capture her story as realistically as we can."

The four APA performances will take place atï¿½ 7:30 p.m. on April 18-20 and at 2:00 p.m. on April 20 at Huntington Beach High School, 1905 Main St.,ï¿½ Huntington Beach. For tickets, visit their website at www.hbapa.org.

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